What could have passed off as a routine by-election in the first year of a new government has been hyped up with the Opposition competing on the decibel levels to target AIADMK but the party is comfortably placed to retain the seat notwithstanding the ‘electrifying’ self-immolation threat of DMK chief M. Karunanidhi.
The division of the Opposition votes, thanks to the multi-cornered contest, could make it a cakewalk for chief minister J. Jayalalithaa’s candidate S. Muthuselvi, despite all the criticism about power shortage. Local sentiment seems to be in her favour and, as one experienced voter put it, Sankarankoil has far greater chances of development by opting for the ruling party.
The chief minister was in the constituency Wednesday and archrival Kalaignar followed the next day to campaign for his nominee, J. Jawahar Suryakumar. ‘Captain’ Vijayakanth is sweating it out to get his DMDK candidate to at least the runner-up slot.
Under normal circumstances, the presence of MDMK in the battle would have been of no consequence but this being Vaiko’s hometurf, there is a huge burden on the fatigued warhorse to deliver a decent score.
BJP completes the quintet on the competition card, being there more to register presence than anything else. It is trying to put up a decent score on the board to up its bargaining power ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Chief minister Jayalalithaa had a good outing in Sankarankoil, and appears confident of winning the seat with a comfortable majority and prove that she could do so without allies.
Her opponents point out that all her ministers and party seniors are camping in Sankarankoil.
After the drubbing in the Assembly elections, the DMK hopes to redeem at least some of its lost sheen by wresting the seat.
The ‘warring’ brothers Stalin and Alagiri are presenting a picture of unity to boost cadre morale and party functionaries say Mr Karunanidhi’s Thursday campaign will hugely help.